Glazing flange attachment system

ABSTRACT

A snap-in metal glazing flange for a window or building panel is initially separate from a supporting frame member which is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving the side margin of the glazing flange. A notch in one of the slot walls receives a locking and locating projection or rib on the glazing flange. A compressible vinyl spline is pressed between the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder in the slot to secure the projection in the notch and lock the glazing flange in the appropriate overlapping position on the window or panel margin. The spline is removable to release the flange for replacement of the window or panel. An inclined or tapered camming abutment at the end of the slot engages the side edge of the glazing flange and moves the projection into the notch as the flange is inserted in the slot and prevents angular displacement of the glazing flange in the slot.

[ Jan. 15, 1974 GLAZING FLANGE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM [75] Inventor:Frederick M. Fink, McHenry, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Aluminum Products Company, McHenry, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 186,849

Primary ExaminerAlfred C. Perham Att0rney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler [57]ABSTRACT A snap-in metal glazing flange for a window or building panelis initially separate from a supporting frame member which is providedwith a longitudinal slot for receiving the side margin of the glazingflange. A notch in one of the slot walls receives a locking and locatingprojection or rib on the glazing flange. A compressible vinyl spline ispressed between the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder in the slot tosecure the projection in the notch and lock the glazing flange in theappropriate overlapping position on the window or panel margin. Thespline is removable to release the flange for replacement of the windowor panel. An inclined or tapered camming abutment at the end of the slotengages the side edge of the glazing flange and moves the projectioninto the notch as the flange is inserted in the slot and preventsangular displacement of the glazing flange in the slot.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures \BZ /6 Z 4 48 4/ GLAZING FLANGE ATTACHMENTSYSTEM BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Prior art arrangements for glazingwindows and building panels with metal glazing flanges typically includea glazing flange or strip which is integral with a base extrusion framemember. If glazing is not required or desired in some areas, the flangemust be removed from the base extrusion or frame by expensive notchingdies, resulting in a waste of material. Removal ofa broken window ordamaged panel also requires removal of v the frame or base extrusion.Prior art glazing arrangements suitable for both windows and panels withsnapin connection of the glazing flange to a frame member typicallyemploy a number of components and are expensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides a glazing flange and frameconstruction composed of three pieces, the glazing flange, a framemember, and a compressible spline. The glazing flange is a flat metalstrip and is initially separate from and releasably locks in alongitudinal slot in the frame member. The flange has a barbed locatingand locking projection or rib which interfits in a transverse notch in aslot wall of the frame to secure the glazing flange against lateralmovement and maintain the flange in the desired overlapping relation onthe margin of the window or building panel. The glazing flange issecurely held against the slot wall and the pro jection secured in thenotch by a compressible spline or retainer which is easily pressedbetween the surface of the glazing flange opposite the projection and astepped seat in a slot wall. Outward displacement of the glazing flangeby pressure on the window or panel is prevented by an inclined cammingabutment at the end of the slot which engages and confines a side edgeof the glazing flange and also cams the projection into the notch as theglazing flange is moved into the slot during assembly.

Replacement of damaged glass or panels is easily accomplished byremoving the spline and disengaging the locating projection.

Further objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following disclosure.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a buildingwall embodying the glazing flange and attaching frame member of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view with parts brokenaway of the glazing flange and frame member shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the disclosurehereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merelyexemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specificstructure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appendedhereto.

The building wall includes a window glass or decorative panel 12. Thepanel 12 is glazed by one or more glazing flanges 14 which comprisealuminum or like metal strips mounted in superposed overlapping relationagainst the margins 16 of the panel 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 andsealed to the panel 12 by bedding material such as self-adhesive tape ora gun applied sealant l5. Panels can be of any usual thickness,typically one-eighth inch to two and one-half inches. The glazingflanges 14 are in the form of flat strips which include a longitudinalcontinuous or discontinuous locking and locating projection or rib 18(FIG. 2). The rib 18 has a shoulder surface 19 perpendicular to theflange l4 and a sloping cam surface 21 for purposes hereinafterdescribed.

The glazing flange 14 is initially separate and detachably connects witha frame member or base extrusion 20 which includes a longitudinal slotor recess 22 defined by opposed slot walls 24 and 26 spaced a distancesufficient to freely receive the flange 14 and rib 18. The slot 22 isoffset outwardly of the panel 12 so that the glazing flange can besuperposed on the outside surface of the panel 12.

The slot wall 26 is provided with a transverse longitudinal notch orrecess 30 which interlocks with the projection or rib 18 when the flange14 is assembled. The projection 18 is retained in the slot 30 by anelastomeric or compressible spline or retaining means 32 which can beprovided with corrugated surfaces 34 and 36. The corrugated surfaces 34and 36 provide frictional engagement and increase the compressibility ofthe spline 32 which yieldably biases the flange 14 against the slot wall26. The spline 32 is desirably constructed of a weather resistantplastic material such as vinyl.

In assembly, the panel 12 is positioned against a glazing angle 37 whichis secured to the frame member 20 by fasteners 39. The sealant 15 isapplied to the side margin of the panel 12 and the glazing flange 14inserted in the slot 22. The sloping surface 21 of the projection 18guides the projection past the corner 41. An inclined surface or cammingabutment 40 at the inner end of the slot 22 cams the flange 14 againstthe slot wall 26 as the flange 14 is moved laterally into the slot 22.The incline of the abutment 40 is such that the projection or rib 18 isregistered in the notch 30 when the glazing flange is fully seated inthe slot (FIG. 2).

An access zone 44 between the frame member 20 and the edge 46 of thepanel 12 enables insertion of the spline between the inside surface 48of the glazing flange and a stepped shoulder 50 on the frame member 20.The spline 32 has a thickness slightly greater than the spacing betweenthe shoulder 50 and the surface 48 and thus the spline 32 is slightlycompressed as it is moved against the shoulder 50. When thus assembled,the spline locks the projection 18 in the notch 30 and prevents lateraldisplacement of the flange. The camming abutment 40 prevents angulardisplacement of the glazing flange l4 outwardly from the building wall.The panel or window 12 is easily removed when damaged by withdrawing thespline 32 to release the projection 18 from the notch 30.

I claim:

1. In combination, a glazing flange and frame member, said glazingflange comprising a flat strip adapted to overlap the margins of abuilding panel and having a lateral projection, said frame member havingopposed wall portions defining a slot for telescopically receiving saidglazing flange endwise, one of said wall portions having surfacesdefining a notch for receiving said projection, and compressibleretaining means interfitting between the side of said flat stripopposite said projection and said other wall portion to press said flatstrip sideways against said one wall portion to maintain said projectionin said notch and lock said glazing flange in said frame member, saidslot having a camming abutment engageable with the side edge of saidglazing flange to cam said projection in said notch as said flange isinserted in said slot.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said projection has first andsecond surfaces, said first surface being inclined to facilitate entryof said projection into said slot and wherein said notch has a surfaceperpendicular to said glazing flange and engageable with one of saidprojection surfaces.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises alength of plastic having opposed corrugated surfaces.

4. A building construction comprising a building panel, a glazing flangehaving a locking and locating projection, a frame member spaced from theedge of said building panel to provide an access zone, said frame memberhaving opposed wall portions defining a longitudinal slot offsetoutwardly of said building panel and spaced apart a distance greaterthan the thickness of said glazing flange and said projection to freelyreceive said glazing flange, one of said slot wall portions having anotch to receive said glazing flange projection, a shoulder in saidother slot wall portion, compressible retaining means receivable in saidaccess zone and engageable with said shoulder to yieldably bias saidglazing flange against said slot wall portion having said notch forlocking said projection in said notch, an inside glazing memberconnected to said frame member and overlapping the inside margin of saidpanel, and said slot having a camming abutment to cam said projectioninto said notch and confine said flange against angular displacement.

1. In combination, a glazing flange and frame member, said glazingflange comprising a flat strip adapted to overlap the margins of abuilding panel and having a lateral projection, said frame member havingopposed wall portions defining a slot for telescopically receiving saidglazing flange endwise, one of said wall portions having surfacesdefining a notch for receiving said projection, and compressibleretainIng means interfitting between the side of said flat stripopposite said projection and said other wall portion to press said flatstrip sideways against said one wall portion to maintain said projectionin said notch and lock said glazing flange in said frame member, saidslot having a camming abutment engageable with the side edge of saidglazing flange to cam said projection in said notch as said flange isinserted in said slot.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidprojection has first and second surfaces, said first surface beinginclined to facilitate entry of said projection into said slot andwherein said notch has a surface perpendicular to said glazing flangeand engageable with one of said projection surfaces.
 3. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a length of plastichaving opposed corrugated surfaces.
 4. A building constructioncomprising a building panel, a glazing flange having a locking andlocating projection, a frame member spaced from the edge of saidbuilding panel to provide an access zone, said frame member havingopposed wall portions defining a longitudinal slot offset outwardly ofsaid building panel and spaced apart a distance greater than thethickness of said glazing flange and said projection to freely receivesaid glazing flange, one of said slot wall portions having a notch toreceive said glazing flange projection, a shoulder in said other slotwall portion, compressible retaining means receivable in said accesszone and engageable with said shoulder to yieldably bias said glazingflange against said slot wall portion having said notch for locking saidprojection in said notch, an inside glazing member connected to saidframe member and overlapping the inside margin of said panel, and saidslot having a camming abutment to cam said projection into said notchand confine said flange against angular displacement.